1. Writing Research Paper That Gets Published
Muhammad Rafiq Awan

2. What is a Research Article
A manuscript which is the result of a original research and assesses its contribution to the body of knowledge in a given area and published in a peer reviewed scholarly journal. A research paper produced as a primary resource to justify/support or negate the existing theory or to give new theory published in a research journal.

3. Types of Research Articles
Rapid/letter/short articles
Written on the basis of some early data or partial data.
Review Papers
Summarizing recent developments from literature
Full-length Articles
Significant developments on the basis of data
Micro Articles
Extensions in existing research

4. Planning Your Manuscript
Topic should be unique, innovative and original
You have completed the homework
Read some literature on the topic
Decide for appropriate research methodology
Have you resources and skills
Can you seek help from others
Why do you want to do that
Can topic contribute in the body of knowledge
Discuss your construct and hypothesis
Where you can publish your study
What are the ethical considerations
Is work meaningful
Get critique on your work
Are there audience for your idea

5. Choosing Right Title Types of Titles
Descriptive Titles (Describe phenomenon)
Example: “Role of academic conferences on shaping research agenda”
Declarative Titles (Focusing on the results)
Example: “Academic conferences shaping the short term research agenda”
Interrogative Titles
Example: “Do academic conferences shape the research agenda”

6. Choosing Right Title……
Leave out phrases like “a study of”, “investigating into”, “observation on”
Do not use abbreviations and jargons
Identify article’s main issue
Begin with the article’s subject matter
Accurate/un-ambiguous and specific
Enticing and interesting
Words of controlled vocabulary

7. Authorship Include the names who have real contribution
Who have significant contributions in the field
Prefer not too many authors
Who may contribute with you
Expertise you are weak
Person from you field of interest
Give your own name as corresponding author

8. Keywords for the Article
Important words
Prefer concrete words
Avoid compound words
Use as many as can be
Use subject thesaurus
Presenter of your article
Avoid acronyms

9. Abstract Parts of abstract Length of Abstract (200 to 250 words)
Background, Objectives, Research Problem, Methodology & method, Results, Conclusion
Length of Abstract (200 to 250 words)
Background 30 To 40 words
Objectives 30 To 40 words
Method/methodology 50 To 60 words
Results 50 To 60 Words
Conclusion To 50 words
Summary in one sentence (optional)
Do not include references
Use Past Tense
Clear and precise

10. Introduction Creating a Research Space (CARS) Hourglass Model
General points to be consider:
Contextual background (one small paragraph) to provide basis to your claim
What previous researches contributed (two or three paragraphs) not history
What they have not addressed or offshoot (one paragraph) Gap
What problem gap is causing
Problem being investigated (one small paragraph)
Solution to the problem/ answers to the questions
Benefit of solutions/ Addition to the existing body of knowledge
Avoid unnecessary paragraphs
Use headings if required
Mostly in Past Tense

11. Research Design What ontology and epistemology followed?
What paradigm of research used?
What methodology used (give justification)?
What method and tools utilized and why?
Give little details
State the frequencies
Type of data recorded for each observation
Precise measurements
Describe statistical tests and their justification
Assumptions for tests
Research ethics for data collection (if human, animal or other aspects)
Name techniques if known or give details if new
See past research papers on the topic what design they have used and how
Use Third Person Passive

12. Results Objective findings not subjective findings
Largely in text form
Show how your results adds body of knowledge
Clear and logical
Interpret your results
Preferably in the sequence of table/figures/graphs
Emphasize only on significant results
Table and figures should be numbered
Keep in mind that results are not discussion
Do not repeat
Not too many tables and figures
Only relevant ones

13. Discussion
This is the place where you describe the meanings of you research
Presentation of information recapitalization
Summary of results
Should be in context to your literature review
Narrate how your results support/refute previous theories
What new theory/ies your research has given
Link it with research questions or hypotheses
Mention limitations (if any)
Suggest further extensions
Explain how your research added the body of knowledge
Practical applications of your research

14. Conclusions Are your results directly support your conclusions
Do not introduce new vocabulary
Conclusions based on facts not imaginary
State but never overstate the conclusions
Main message of your conclusions
Freely mention if your research falsify the previous research
Do not include the unnecessary information

15. References Use prescribed writing style
Latest references (possibly last five years)
Use Endnote
Repeat reference for one idea/ Do not repeat idea
See intext reference and then list
Do not miss any reference in the list
Use last name
Use running quotation if it is less than 40 words and “ ……. “
Centralize two tabs from each side if quotation is more than 40 words
“……………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………....
……………………………………………………..” (Awan, 2015).
Awan (2015)……… …………..(Awan, 2015).

16. Research Ethics Permission Certificate Authorship Disputes Plagiarism
Simultaneous submissions
Research frauds
Do not borrow the idea without reference

17. Personal Review
From Article

18. Selection of Journal Scope and coverage Status of journal
Ranking Matrix
Impact Factor/ Journal Citation Report
Acceptance/rejection rate
Average time of publishing
Fee or free
What are alternates
Prepare your mail/cover letter professionally
Aim high but not too high
Open Access journals
Avoid fraudulent/fake journals

19. Submission of Article Read guidelines thoroughly
Respect the words length
Check the plagiarism again before sending
Wait for response
Wait for pear review (Single, Double, Open)
Welcome revisions
Try understand reviewer’s pint of view
Do not argue reviewer
Use polite tone if you want to explain
Submit the article soon after revision
Read the terms and conditions
Try to be reviewer of the journal (in the beginning voluntarily)

20. After Publication Share your research
Send its link to Communities of Practice
Use Social Media
Ask friends for referencing
Promote your research
Join Academic Communities (Research Gate)
Give suggestions to the novel researchers